Delhi's 2,400 farmhouses to be regularised soon

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has given its final seal of approval to the policy of regularising 2,400-odd farmhouses in the Capital.

The much-delayed farmhouse policy was discussed and cleared in a meeting of the authority but the minutes of the meeting were confirmed on Friday.

The meeting was chaired by Delhi lieutenant governor Tejendra Khanna, who is also the DDA chairman.

The farmhouse policy has been now sent to the urban development ministry for notification, which would be put out for further suggestions and objections from the public.

The DDA has agreed to am-end its master plan to allow the inclusion of "multi-disciplinary clinics" activity under "clinic" in the "other activities" column of mixed-use regulations.

DDA officials said a request was received from the Delhi government asking to allow physiotherapy, pathological labs and likes for under the term "clinics" to ensure all facilities are available to disabled people under one roof.

The DDA had earlier invited objections and suggestions from public before making amendments in the master plan. Since no objection or suggestion was received, the DDA placed it before the authority for approval.

"It was approved in the board meeting on Friday," said a DDA official.

The DDA has also agreed to allow the existing seven temporary cinemas in Delhi to continue. Though these cinema halls have no legal status, they had been in existence for a long time. In a meeting chaired by Khanna, the DDA agreed to regularise them but with certain conditions.

"The FAR for these cinemas will be allowed up to 100 subject to maximum of 2,000sq m of built-up area. In case a cinema hall has more land, the rest of the area will be kept green. For other aspects, the rules applicable to the normal cinemas will be applicable. There should be three ECS parking for every 100 sq m of built-up space," a DDA official said.

The authority may also earmark one floor in each community centre in the Capital for senior citizens. Accepting a proposal to provide space to elderly people for recreation, relaxation and reading, Khanna asked the authority to bring a concrete proposal in this regard.

The authority has also decided to recruit assistant executive engineer (civil) and assistant executive engineer (electrical and mechanical).